Getting to Faial - Part 2
As mentioned in the previous post, we had landed at about 5:00pm on Terceira and disembarked into the somewhat small commercial airport that is part of the larger US military base. At least I think that is where we where. Who knows... essentially marooned on a runway, in a shack.
OK, a large shack.
No further flights in or out expected for the day, so the bar / snack / coffee shop was shut. Everything was shut. It's a wonder the lights where on.
This is desperate. Amongst 200 and odd people who needed food, and most of all a drink, a small riot murmured under the surface. Local Azoreans started to get vocal. This is a beauty to behold.
Their curses and raised tones elevating with each passing breath.
Somehow I felt a deep joy that a culture could be so vociferous and yet, in the background there was a feeling that all they really wanted to do was vent. If you have ever had the pleasure of a Glaswegian friend, you will know this to be true: warmer people you can not hope to meet - but cross them and they will tell you in no uncertain terms when exactly they think your expiration date should be!
Information was thin on the ground and SATA was the bad guy. Some Swedes, Germans and others had made an earlier start than us, so they where basically at the end of their tether....and yet ridiculously restrained, due to some notion of political corectness, something the Portuguese and Azorean travellers had no concept of.
Cher looking happy that the cafe / bar is open and we are able to get a bite and a drink... it didn't last....
The sandwich left "something" to be desired... rubbish dry bread, a slice of square ham and a bit of cheese. No butter. I think this picture speaks a thousand words. Courtesy of SATA.
Eventually the bar was opened. The kids got a drink, sandwiches knocked up (see above) and the big boys and girls got a bottle of beer or a coffee. Beer was not free of course. Fortunately for SATA airlines and the Portuguese, the world cup (?) was blaring out of a wall mounted TV. All seemed calm and the guys engrossed. Kids kicked small footballs around between passengers legs. Until they lost.
We had been told we would find out about getting to Faial at 7:00pm
We didn't.
A local who used a lot of great English swear words told me that we wouldn't land on Faial tonight because it would get dark soon, and no flights can land in the dark there because of the short runway. He lead another mini-riot. I joined in just for fun. The Germans joined in too. Yes! Security was called....
One local chap left the airport as he had friends on the island... "I go tomorrow, @£$£ this" - again brilliant English Language used creatively.
So, finally at 9:30pm we are told that we will not be going to Faial tonight and that we would be leaving at 10:30pm for a return flight to Lisbon. We would come out again the following day.
The reaction was spectacular. I will say no more. We didn't leave at 10:30 it was much later.
We tried to stand our ground and suggest that since it was so late we should stay in Terceira.
The local police where called. All was not happy with the assembled crowd. If I hadn't been so tired it would have been hilarious. The police ensured we got on the plane. oh-oh.
Some people can't help smiling for the camera, namely the Azoreans. But spot my German friend in the check shirt...he's not happy. Policeman at the edge of left hand frame made sure we all behaved.... following picture captures the mood as we are shipped out to the plane.
The Scandinavian girls giving it the big thumbs down. Thanks SATA. This was team building.
Eventually we boarded the flight, and landed in Lisbon at some silly hour. We had to collect our bags and then after being given a 4 Euro food voucher (yes!) we had to kip down for the remaining time until our flight that was scheduled for 10:00 am the next morning... by now it was 03:00am. Hero for the day award: I managed to get an 83 year old Swiss Lady a wheel chair for the night. She was beyond herself, as was her daughter.
The lovely Swiss lady and her daughter, who is on her smart-phone desperately trying to find information, back in Lisbon, where they started. At least Mum had a chair now. xxx
Well sir, I'll have the lobster thermidor with a fine Chablis. Nope 4 Euros buys you...?
Happy campers show their meal tickets the they had to stand in line for... I didn't bother...
A long day.
Next Up - Getting to Faial Island, Eventually.
